Donald is a masculine

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

derived from the

Gaelic Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...

name ''Dòmhnall''.. This comes from the Proto-Celtic *''Dumno-ualos'' ("world-ruler" or "world-wielder"). The final -''d'' in ''Donald'' is partly derived from a misinterpretation of the Gaelic pronunciation by English speakers, and partly associated with the spelling of similar-sounding Germanic names, such as ''

Ronald Ronald is a masculine given name derived from the Old Norse ''Rögnvaldr'',#H2, Hanks; Hardcastle; Hodges (2006) p. 234; #H1, Hanks; Hodges (2003) § Ronald. or possibly from Old English ''Regenweald''. In some cases ''Ronald'' is an Anglicised ...

''. A short form of ''Donald'' is '' Don''.

Pet form A hypocorism ( or ; from Ancient Greek: (), from (), 'to call by pet names', sometimes also ''hypocoristic'') or pet name is a name used to show affection for a person. It may be a diminutive form of a person's name, such as ''Izzy'' for I ...

s of ''Donald'' include ''Donnie'' and ''Donny''. The feminine given name ''Donella'' is derived from ''Donald''. ''Donald'' has cognates in other Celtic languages: Modern Irish ''Dónal'' (anglicised as ''Donal'' and ''Donall'');. Scottish Gaelic ''Dòmhnall'', ''Domhnull'' and ''Dòmhnull'';

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

'' Dyfnwal'' and Cumbric ''Dumnagual''. Although the feminine given name ''

Donna Donna may refer to the short form of the honorific ''nobildonna'', the female form of Don (honorific) in Italian. People *Donna (given name); includes name origin and list of people and characters with the name * Roberto Di Donna (born 1968), Ita ...

'' is sometimes used as a feminine form of ''Donald'', the names are not etymologically related.

Variations

Kings and noblemen

Domnall or Domhnall is the name of many ancient and medieval Gaelic kings and noblemen: *

Dyfnwal Hen Dyfnwal Hen or Dumnagual Hen ("Dyfnwal the Old") was a ruler of the Brittonic kingdom of Alt Clut, later known as Strathclyde, probably sometime in the early 6th century. His biography is vague, but he was regarded as an important ancestor figure ...

(Dumnagual I), Ruler of Alt Clut (Strathclyde) (450–475) *

Domnall Brecc Domnall Brecc (Welsh: ''Dyfnwal Frych''; English: ''Donald the Freckled'') (died 642 in Strathcarron) was king of Dál Riata, in modern Scotland, from about 629 until 642. He was the son of Eochaid Buide. He was counted as Donald II of Scotland b ...

, king of Dál Riata (d. 642) *

Domnall mac Áedo Domnall mac Áedo (died 642), also known as Domnall II, Was an Irish king and son of Áed mac Ainmuirech and his consort Land, the daughter of Áed Guaire mac Amalgada of Airgíalla. Domnall was High King of Ireland from 628 until his death. He be ...

, High King of the Northern Uí Néill and Ireland (d. 642) *

Domnall Midi Domhnall Mac Murchada (born c. 700, died 20 November 763), called Domnall Midi (Donald of Meath), was High King of Ireland. He belonged to the Clann Cholmáin branch of the Uí Néill. Clann Cholmáin's pre-eminence among the southern Uí Néill, ...

, High King of Clann Cholmáin and Ireland (d. 763) *

Domnall mac Ailpín Domnall mac Ailpín ( Modern Gaelic: ''Dòmhnall mac Ailpein''), anglicised sometimes as Donald MacAlpin and known in most modern regnal lists as Donald I (812 – 13 April 862), was King of the Picts from 858 to 862. He followed his brother ...

(812–863) *

Donald II of Scotland Domnall mac Causantín ( Modern Gaelic: , IPA: �t̪oːvnəɫ̪ˈmaʰkˈxoːʃɪm, anglicised as Donald II (died 900), was King of the Picts or King of Alba in the late 9th century. He was the son of Constantine I (Causantín mac Cináeda). Donal ...

(889–900) *

Domnall mac Eimín Domnall mac Eimín meic Cainnig (died 23 April 1014) was an eleventh-century Mormaer of Mar. He is attested by numerous accounts of the Battle of Clontarf in which he is said to have lost his life supporting the cause of Brian Bóruma mac Cenné ...

, Mormaer of Mar (d. 1014) * Donald III of Scotland (1033–1099) * Domnall Gerrlámhach, King of Dublin (d. 1135) * Domnall Ua Lochlainn, High King of Ireland (1083 and 1121) * Domhnall I, Earl of Mar (1276–1301) *

Domhnall II, Earl of Mar Domhnall II, Earl of Mar (date of birth unknown but prior to 130511 August 1332) was briefly Regent of Scotland during the minority of David II, King of Scotland. Domhnall's father was Gartnait, Earl of Mar. His mother's identity is uncertain, a ...

(1305–1332) *

Domhnall, Earl of Lennox Mormaer Domhnall of Lennox ruled Lennox in the years 1333–1365. He succeeded his father Maol Choluim II. Domhnall adhered to the cause of David II during the Second War of Scottish Independence. King David II stayed at Dumbarton on at least ...

(1333–1365) * Dyfnwal, King of Strathclyde (d. 908×915), also known by the names ''Donald'', ''Domhnall'', and ''Domnall'' * Dyfnwal ab Owain (d. 975), also known by the names ''Donald'' and ''Domnall'' *

Owain ap Dyfnwal (fl. 934) Owain ap Dyfnwal ( fl. 934) was an early tenth-century King of Strathclyde. He was probably a son of Dyfnwal, King of Strathclyde, who may have been related to previous rulers of the Kingdom of Strathclyde. Originally centred in the valley of t ...

Given name

Domhnall

Domhnall mac Conchobair Ó Briain Domhnall mac Conchobair Ó Briain, known in English as ''Sir Donnell O'Brien'' (died 1579) was a Gaelic Irish leader from Thomond in the Kingdom of Ireland. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Spancel Hill, against his nephew who w ...

(died 1579), Gaelic Irish military leader *

Domhnall Gleeson Domhnall Gleeson (; born 12 May 1983) is an Irish actor and screenwriter. He is the son of actor Brendan Gleeson, with whom he has appeared in a number of films and theatre projects. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts from Dublin Inst ...

(born 1983), Irish actor * Domhnall mac Dáire Mac Bruaideadha (fl. c. 1600), Irish poet *

Domhnall MacAuley Professor Domhnall MacAuley MD, FRCGP, FFPHMI, FFSEM, FISM (born 1957) is a former physician, a professor of primary health care and a medical journal editor. After graduating from University College Dublin, MacAuley underwent medical train ...

(born 1957), Scottish physician and professor *

Dòmhnall Ruadh Chorùna Dòmhnall Ruadh Chorùna (Red Donald of Coruna; 9 July 1887 – 13 August 1967), legally Donald MacDonald or Dòmhnall MacDhòmhnaill, was a Scottish Gaelic Bard, North Uist stonemason, and veteran of the First World War. Literary historian Rona ...

(1887–1967), Scottish Gaelic poet

Donnell

Donnell Ballagh O'Cahan Donnell Ballagh O'Cahan (died 1627) was an Irish landowner in Ulster. A vassal of Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, O'Cahan was frequently in rebellion alongside his lord in the closing years of the 16th century. Although he did not go into exile wit ...

(died 1627), Irish landowner and rebel * Donnell Rawlings (born 1968), comedian

Don

* Don Adams (1923–2005), American actor, comedian and director *

Don Airey Donald Smith Airey (born 21 June 1948) is an English musician who has been the keyboardist in the rock band Deep Purple since 2002, after the retirement of Jon Lord. He has had a long and productive career, playing with such acts as Gary Moore ...

(born 1948), English keyboardist *

Don Ameche Don Ameche (; born Dominic Felix Amici; May 31, 1908 – December 6, 1993) was an American actor, comedian and vaudevillian. After playing in college shows, stock, and vaudeville, he became a major radio star in the early 1930s, which l ...

(1908–1993), Hollywood actor *

Don Barksdale Donald Argee Barksdale (March 31, 1923 – March 8, 1993) was an American professional basketball player. He was a pioneer as an African-American basketball player, becoming the first to be named NCAA All-American, the first to play on a ...

(1923–1993), American basketball player *

Don Bertoia Donald Richard Bertoia (born February 16, 1940 in Rossland, British Columbia) is a retired middle distance runner from Canada, who represented his native country in the men's 800 metres at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. A resident of ...

, Canadian middle-distance runner * Don Bluth (born 1937), animator, film director, producer, writer, production designer, video game designer and independent studio owner * Don Bowman (singer) (1937–2013), American comedian, country music singer, and songwriter * Don Cheadle (born 1964), American actor and producer * Don Cherry (born 1934), Canadian ice hockey player, coach, and television commentator * Don Cherry (American football) (born 1994), American football player * Don Cherry (singer) (1924–2018), American singer and golfer * Don Cherry (trumpeter) (1936–1995), American jazz trumpeter * Don Ciccone (1946–2016), American singer-songwriter, member of the band The Critters * Don Cornelius (1936–2012), American television show host and producer * Don Cornell (1919–2004), stage name of Luigi Varlaro, American singer * Dominick Don Costa (1925–1983), American conductor and record producer *

Don Covay Donald James Randolph (March 24, 1936 – January 31, 2015), better known by the stage name Don Covay, was an American R&B, rock and roll, and soul singer-songwriter most active from the 1950s to the 1970s. His most successful recordings incl ...

(1936–2015), American singer and songwriter * Don Criqui (born 1950), American sportscaster * Don Diablo (born 1980), Dutch DJ, record producer, musician and songwriter of electronic music *

Don Digirolamo Don Digirolamo is an American retired re-recording mixer. He was nominated for three Academy Awards, winning once for his work on the film '' E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'' (1982). Awards and nominations Academy Awards British Academy Film Awar ...

, American re-recording mixer * Don Dunstan (1926–1999), South Australian politician *

Don Estelle Don Estelle (22 May 1933 – 2 August 2003) was an English actor and singer, best known as Gunner "Lofty" Sugden in ''It Ain't Half Hot Mum''. Early life Born Ronald Edwards in Crumpsall, Manchester (historically part of Lancashire), he wa ...

(1933–2003), British actor and singer * Don Everly (born 1937), American country-influenced rock and roll singer and guitarist * Don Felder (born 1947), American singer-songwriter and guitarist, former member of the Eagles * Don Frye (born 1965), American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler * Don Garber (born 1957), American sports executive *

Don Gardner Donald Gardner (May 9, 1931 – September 4, 2018) was an American rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, and drummer. His records included the 1962 pop hit " I Need Your Lovin'", with Dee Dee Ford. Biography Born in Philadelphia, Gardner start ...

(1931–2018), American singer-songwriter * Don Gibson (1928–2003), American songwriter and country musician * Don Goldstein, American basketball player *

Don Gorske Donald A. Gorske (born November 28, 1953) is an American world record holder known as the "ultimate Big Mac fan," having eaten over 32,672 such hamburgers from the U.S. fast food chain restaurant, chain McDonald's in his lifetime, earning him a p ...

(born 1953), “Big Mac” Enthusiast and Guinness World Record holder of most Big Macs eaten * Don Gullett (born 1951), American baseball pitcher *

Don Gullick Donald Gullick (22 November 1924 – 14 April 2000) was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, and coached rugby league in the 1950s and 1960s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Pontypool ...

(1924–2000), Welsh rugby union and rugby league footballer and coach * Don Hasselbeck (born 1955), American football player *

Don Henley Donald Hugh Henley (born July 22, 1947) is an American musician and a founding member of the rock band Eagles. He is the drummer and one of the lead singers for the Eagles. Henley sang the lead vocals on Eagles hits such as "Witchy Woman", "Despe ...

(born 1947), founding member of the Eagles (band), Eagles rock group * Don Hewitt (1922–2009), American television news producer * Don Ho (1930–2007), American pop musician, singer and entertainer * Don Hutson (1913–1997), American football player * Don Imus (1940–2019), American radio and television host * Don Johnson (sports executive) (1930–2012), Canadian sports executive and president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association * Don King (boxing promoter) (born 1931), American boxing promoter * Don King (coach) (born 1926), American football player and coach * Don King (defensive back) (born 1964), American football player * Don King (defensive lineman) (1929–2014), American football player * Don King (musician) (born 1954), American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and trumpeter * Don King (photographer) (born 1960), American photographer, cinematographer, and film director * Don Roy King (born 1947), American television director * Don Kirshner (1934–2011), American music publisher, rock music producer, talent manager, and songwriter * Don Knotts (1924–2006), American actor and comedian * Don Larsen (1929–2020), American baseball player * Don Lemon (born 1966), American television personality and current host of CNN Tonight * Don L. Lind (born 1930), American scientist and a former naval officer and aviator, and NASA astronaut * Don MacLean (basketball) (born 1970), American basketball player and color commentator * Don Marion Davis (1917–2020), American child actor * Don Mattingly, American pro baseball player for the New York Yankees and manager of the LA Dodgers; aka "Donnie Baseball" and "The Hitman" * Don McLean (born 1945), American singer-songwriter and musician * Don Nelson (born 1940), American basketball player and coach * Don Nelson (screenwriter) (1927–2013), American screenwriter, film producer, and jazz musician * Don Nickles (born 1948), American politician * Don Patinkin (1922–1995), Israeli-American economist, and President of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem * Don Payne (writer), Don Payne, American writer and producer * Don Quarrie (born 1951), Jamaican sprinter * Don Reid (singer), Don Reid (born 1945), lead singer of American country group The Statler Brothers * Don Rickles (1926–2017), American stand-up comedian * Don Robesky (1906–2002), American football player * Don Rondo (1930–2011), American singer * Don Shula (1930–2020), American football coach * Don Slater (born 1954), British sociologist * Don Trahan (born 1949), American golfer, father of D. J. Trahan * Don Van Vliet (1941–2010), American singer, songwriter and musician, also known as Captain Beefheart * Don Warrington (born 1951), Trinidadian-born British actor * Don Waterman (born 1950), American racing driver * Don Webb (American football) (born 1939), American football player * Don Webb (playwright), English playwright and dramatist * Don Webb (writer) (born 1960), American science fiction, mystery, and horror writer * Don Wilson (American football) (born 1961), American football player * Don Wilson (announcer) (1900–1982), American radio and television announcer and actor * Don Wilson (Australian footballer) (1914–2015), Australian footballer * Don Wilson (baseball) (1945–1975), American baseball pitcher * Don Wilson (cricketer) (1927–2012), English cricketer * Don Wilson (pastor) (born 1949), American Christian pastor and creationist * Don E. Wilson (born 1944), American zoologist * Don M. Wilson III (born 1948), American banker and corporate director * Don W. Wilson (born 1942), American historian and archivist * Don Williams (1939–2017), American singer-songwriter * Don Williams (offensive lineman) (1919–2001), American football player * Don Williams (American football coach) (1927–2013), American football, track and field coach * Don Williams (footballer, born 1935) (1935–1995), Australian rules footballer * Don Williams (footballer, born 1939) (born 1939), Australian rules footballer * Don Williams (poker player) (1942–2013), American poker player * Don Williams (racing driver) (1947–1989), American racing driver

Donal

* Donal Logue (born 1969), Canadian actor * Donal MacIntyre (born 1966), Irish investigative reporter * Donal Murray (bishop) (born 1940), the Roman Catholic Bishop of Limerick (1996–2009) * Donal O'Brien (disambiguation), several individuals * Donal O'Donoghue (1894–1971), Irish Fianna Fáil politician * Donal O'Shea, Canadian mathematician * Donal O'Sullivan (disambiguation), several individuals * Donal Roe MacCarthy Mór (died 1302), 13th-century noble of Ireland, Prince of the Kingdom of Desmond * Donal MacCarthy Reagh (1450/1460–1531), 9th Prince of Carbery (1505–1531) * Donal Skehan (born 1986), Irish singer, television personality/presenter, food writer/cook and photographer

Dónal

* Dónal Lunny (born 1947), Irish folk musician *Donal Óg Cusack (born 1977), Irish Hurling, hurler

Donald

* Donald Bailey (musician), Donald Bailey (1934–2013), American jazz drummer * Donald Bradman (1908–2001), Australian cricketer * Donald Brashear, American ice hockey player * Donald Burgess, British track cyclist * Donald Byrd (1932–2013), American jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter * Donald Cameron (water polo), Donald Cameron (born 1954), Australian water polo player and coach * Donald Campbell (1921–1967), British world land and water speed record breaker * Donald M. Campbell Jr. (born 1955), retired United States Army lieutenant general who served as the commanding general of United States Army Europe * Donald Capelle, Marshallese politician * Donald Chumley (born 1962), American football player * Donald Crisp (1882–1974), filmmaker * Donald D. Deshler, American educator * Donald Dewar (1937–2000), Labour Party (UK), Labour Party MP and first First Minister of Scotland (1999–2000) * Donald Disney, Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers * Donald Driver, National Football League, NFL player for the Green Bay Packers * Donald "Duck" Dunn (1941–2012), American bass guitarist * Donald Fagen (born 1948), American musician * Donald Faison (born 1974), American actor and comedian * Donald Foss (born 1945), American billionaire, founder of Credit Acceptance * Donald Friese (born 1940), American billionaire businessman * Donald Henry Gaskins (1933–1991), American cannibalistic serial killer, rapist, and thief * Donald Geisler (born 1978), Filipino taekwondo athlete * Donald Glover (born 1983), American actor, musician, writer, comedian, and producer * Donald Gordon (cricketer) (born 1990), English cricketer * Donald J. Guter (born 1948), American educator and 37th Judge Advocate General of the Navy * Donald Hawkins (born 1992), American football player * Donald Harvey (1952–2017), prolific American serial killer * Donald Hewagama (1926–2009), Sri Lankan Sinhala Judge Advocate General, Sri Lanka Army * Donald Hewlett (1922–2011), British actor * Donald Izacus Panjaitan (1925–1965), Indonesian general * Disappearance of Donald Izzett, Donald Izzett (born 1975), American man who has been missing since 1995 * Don Jones (Louisiana politician), Donald Edward Jones (born 1949), American politician * Donald Keene (1922–2019), American-Japanese literary scholar * Donald Knuth (born 1938), American computer scientist * Donald Maclean (spy) (1913–1983), British diplomat and Soviet spy * Donald MacCormick (1939–2009), Scottish journalist * Donald R. MacLeod, Canadian politician * Donald R. McMonagle (born 1952), former astronaut and a veteran of three shuttle flights * Donald (South African musician), Donald Moatshe (born 1985), South African musician * Donald Mote (1900–1968), Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court * Don Muraco, Donald "Don" Muraco (born 1939), American retired wrestler * Donald Nicol (MP), Donald Nicol (1843–1903), Scottish politician * Donald Nicolaisen, American politician * Donald Nixon (1914–1987), younger brother of 37th President of the United States, U.S. President Richard Nixon * Donald Obeyesekere (1888-1964), Sri Lankan Sinhala legislator * Donald of Ogilvy (Saint Donald) * Donald Parham (born 1997), American football player * Donald Perera, 11th Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force * Donald H. Peterson (1933–2018), United States Air Force officer and NASA astronaut * Donald Pettit (born 1955), American chemical engineer and a NASA astronaut * Donald Pleasence (1919–1995), English actor * Donald Ramotar, President of Guyana * Donald Jasen Ranaweera, Sri Lankan Sinhala planter, press baron, and politician * Don Vaughan (North Carolina politician), Donald Ray "Don" Vaughan (born 1952), North Carolina, US, politician * Donald Richie (1924–2013), American-born author who wrote about the Japanese people, the culture of Japan, and especially Japanese cinema * Donald A. Ritchie (born December 23, 1945), Historian Emeritus of the United States Senate * Buck Dharma, Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser (born 1947), rock musician, guitarist for Blue Öyster Cult * Donald Rumsfeld (1932–2021), United States Secretary of Defense * Donald Sanford (athlete), Donald Sanford (born 1987), American-Israeli Olympic sprinter * Donald Sild (born 1968), Estonian javelin thrower * Deke Slayton, Donald "Deke" Slayton (1924–1993), American astronaut * Donald Spero, world champion rower * Donald Sterling, sports team owner * Donald Sutherland (born 1935), Canadian actor * Donald A. Thomas (born 1955), American engineer and a former NASA astronaut * D. J. Trahan, Donald J. Trahan, Jr. (born 1980), American golfer * Donald Triplett (born 1933), first person to be diagnosed with autism * Donald Trump (born 1946), 45th President of the United States, businessman * Donald Tsang (born 1944), Chief Executive of Hong Kong * Donald Tusk (born 1957), former President of the European Council, former Polish Prime Minister (2007–14) * Donald Wailan-Walalangi (born 1960), Indonesian tennis player * Donald Watson (1910–2005), English animal rights advocate and founder of the The Vegan Society, Vegan Society * Donald Woodward Lee (1910–1977), American philologist * Donald Whiston (1927–2020), American ice hockey player * Donald Whitton, Canadian cellist and teacher * Donald E. Williams (1942–2016), American naval officer and aviator, test pilot, mechanical engineer and NASA astronaut * Donald Williamson (disambiguation), multiple people * Donald Wilson (disambiguation), multiple people * Donald Young (tennis) (born 1989), American tennis player

Donaldo

* Donaldo Arza (born 1946), Panamanian track and field athlete * Donaldo González (born 1971), Panamanian footballer * Dondon Hontiveros, Donaldo Hontiveros (born 1977), Filipino basketball player * Donaldo Macedo (born 1950), American academic * Donaldo Méndez (born 1978), Venezuelan baseball player * Donaldo Morales (born 1982), Honduran footballer * Donaldo Ortiz Colín (born 1961), Mexican politician * Donaldo Ernesto Reyes (born 1939), Honduran lawyer and politician

Donnie

*Donnie McKinnon (born 1940), Scottish footballer * Donnie Wahlberg (born 1969), American singer, actor and film producer

Donny

* Donny Hathaway (1945–1979), American soul musician * Donny Osmond (born 1957), American singer and actor

Fictional

* Donald Blake (Marvel Comics), the secret identity of The Mighty Thor, from Marvel Comics * Donald Duck, Disney animated cartoon and comic-book character * Donnie Darko, protagonist of a film of the same name * Don Draper, Donald "Don" Draper, protagonist of the AMC television series ''Mad Men'' * Donald "Ducky" Mallard, character in the TV show ''NCIS'' * Donald Fisher (Home and Away), Donald Fisher, fictional character portrayed by Norman Coburn in Home and Away *General Morden, Donald Morden, fictional character from the video game series Metal Slug (series), Metal Slug * Sir Donald McDuck, Disney character who is an ancestor of Scrooge McDuck and Donald Duck * Donald and Douglas, Donald the Twin Engine, a fictional character from ''The Railway Series'' and its televised adaptation ''Thomas & Friends''

References

{{given name English-language masculine given names English masculine given names Scottish masculine given names